The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.

Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.

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Checking In

Just found this site and I'm checking in. I mostly do fantasy maps for RPG's (and I suspect I'm not alone there) and my biggest interest is in making them seem like a real place. I've seen some great maps here, so I'm hoping to learn something.

Since I'm checking in, here's a map that was drown something like a decade ago. I'm recreating it for a game coming up, and I'd like someone to take a look just to make sure none of the land features need to change (mountains, rivers, etc that don't make any sense) before I get going full swing with stuff that can't easily be undone. It's a continent in the southern hemisphere. Giant forest in the middle, mountains to the south and another smaller (but more angular0 set to the northeast. The only bit that makes me really nervous are the rivers to the east since they look like they split and merge back up. In reality, this is supposed to represent the rivewr widening out and creating a large quasi-swamp (is that a real thing?) where there is often damp ground and a few inches of water, but then collecting back into a river once it's beyond it. I don't even know if such a thing is possible.